Read about Monday’s successful public meeting about the Stow in today’s Racing Post.
Racing Post – 25th January 2012
Join the campaign to save the Stow
Local residents, voice your views and opinions
If any local residents would like to contact SOS directly - Rick Holloway is available by email: rickyjholloway@gmail.com or by phone: 07913 325674Iain Duncan Smith MP
Iain will keep up the pressure on L&Q as he is determined to save the Stow for his constituents!
Stella Creasy MP
'In the words of Marks and Spencer, this isn’t just any dog track… this is the Walthamstow Stadium'
Mayor of London
'My vision for the regeneration of this site includes a range of leisure uses and new affordable housing with heritage assets protected and enhanced. Ideally, this would restore greyhound racing to this, its primary and historic home' - Mayor of London, Boris Johnson
Culture Minister
'It's the best surviving and most architecturally interesting vintage stadiums in the country, and a major East London landmark. It is only right that we should celebrate this architectural showpiece to popular entertainment by listing its key components' - Culture Minister, David Lammy
Residents views
No.1 Simply put L&Q have become a massive organisation and cash rich. They are doing what they want. The land banking of the Stow site when there is a perfectly viable alternative proposal that will benefit all the community is almost criminal. The delivery of social housing and affordable homes is now effectively privatised and these large organisations need feeding. I am not surprised they have ignored most of who will be affected as they have never asked anyone if they want the return of the Stow. I hope the Councillors have seen through all this and refuse any L&Q applications until they learn to consult properly and react accordingly.- No.2 Did anyone notice that in last weeks waltham forest guardian there were no less that 3 seperate articles involving L&Q, In all 3 articles the residents of waltham forest disagree with L&Qs proposals and plans, yet L&Q still maintain “Thats its plans are shaped in consultation with local residents” are they talking about the 6% of local residents that were undecided whether they want greyhound racing to be returned to the “stow”. If L&Q are prepared to brush aside the wishes of 94% of local residents in order to get what they want then this says a lot about them as a charity, In my opinion, even though L&Q say thay will make a loss of £25 million if they redevelop the stow, The executives will probably earn tens of thousands of pounds from tendering contracts to various building companies and trades who will be queing up to do the work, i wonder where this money will go? i doubt if it will end up in L&Qs bank account, maybe thats why they are happy to make a loss of £25 million of taxpayers money so that they can beef up their own bank accounts. This whole affair leaves a very nasty taste in my mouth, It is now time for the government to step in and put an end to this blatant wastage of taxpayers money and bring those responsable to justice, L&Qs behavior makes the MPs expenses scandal look like petty.
- No.3 I made the effort and attended the event. I was shocked at the way the Heritage of the site was being neglected. Why LQ had commissioned a montage from a local school to depict what they wanted for the site when over half the children depicted greyhound racing. Some wanted a cinema, they wont get thet, some wanted an ice rink, they wont get that, some wanted a McDonalds, they wont get that. Nice touchy feely pr from L&Q. As for IDS he spent about half an hour face to face with about two dozen local residents, as well as doing the necessary TV. While I was there, three out of four vehicles that drove by tooted their support, even a police car on a shout tooted. Many who comment in these threads are focussed solely on one aspect of this issue. Considering all angles in a balanced manner it is no brainer for the Stows return. Unfortunately we have a hard nosed property speculator, masquerading as a social landlord with charitable staus. Is anyone aware that collectively Housing Associations claim that £14 billion of private and government funding is needed to deliver social housing need by 2015. This will deliver a tenth of housing the same amount provided in the last 40 years. Where is all this money going? residents need to ask these questions. L&Q have overpaid for the Stow, most likely make a loss, provide very few social units that only a few locals will benefit from. When the politicians say this organisation is disingenuous they mean it. The current model for supplying social housing needs a good look at. This is a serious long term issue.
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